WHY WOMEN’S DESCRIPTIVE REPRESENTATION DOES NOT LEAD TO SUBSTANTIVE REPRESENTATION: An interview study of women politician’s perceptions of hindrances for political inclusion in Bolivia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand why a high descriptive representation does not result in a high substantive representation. The theory of politics of presence (Phillips, 1995) suggests that there should be a link between descriptive and substantive representation. Despite the informal institutions in Bolivia resulting in higher descriptive representation for women their substantive representation arguably has failed since little has changed in terms of policy outcomes or gender-based issues constructing the state. I suggest that the answer to why can be found in the informal institutions. By conducting respondent interviews with women politicians in Bolivia and complementing with informant interviews with experts, this study will develop the theories on what hinders women’s substantive representation with an empirical understanding on what obstacles they perceive. The results show that the informal institution of machismo will limit women’s possibilities for substantive representation, where 7 consequential effects can create further hindrances: physical violence, harassment, legitimacy, psychological barriers, manipulation, educational barriers and workload. The focus on informal institutions will lay a guideline for future research, where theory testing studies can analyze whether the hindrances found in this study is nonexistent in a case with both a high descriptive and a high substantive representation.